Blessed Peregrine of Falerone
Blessed Peregrine of Falerone (Italian: Pellegrino da Falerone; born in the later twelfth century at Falerone, in the Marche, Italy; died September 5, 1233 AD at San Severino Marche) was an Italian Franciscan lay brother, numbered among the first companions of Saint Francis of Assisi. A young nobleman and student of law when he received the habit from Saint Francis himself, he chose — at the saint's own counsel — to remain a simple lay brother, devoting a learned mind to the humblest services and to a life of profound humility. He was long venerated at San Severino Marche, where his tomb became a place of miracles, and his cult was confirmed by Pope Pius VII on July 31, 1821. His feast is kept on March 27.[1][2]
The son of Ruggero, a wealthy lord of Falerone, Peregrine was studying philosophy and canon law at Bologna when, after hearing Saint Francis preach there, he and his friend Blessed Rizziero of Muccia asked to be received into the Order of Friars Minor.[1][2] Tradition relates that Francis directed Peregrine to serve God as a lay brother and to make humility his special study — counsel the young scholar embraced with joy, refusing ever to be ordained a priest.[2]
He is said to have made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, weeping at the places of Christ's Passion, and to have been granted the gift of miracles even in his lifetime. He died in the convent at San Severino Marche in 1233; his body was later found incorrupt, and his relics are venerated there to this day.[1][2]
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Peregrine of Falerone
| Blessed Peregrine of Falerone | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 27 |
| Profession | Franciscan lay brother |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) |
| Patronage | Invoked against toothache; San Severino Marche |
| Attributes | Franciscan habit of a lay brother; pilgrim's staff |
| Birthplace | Falerone, Marche, Italy |
| Death Place | San Severino Marche, Marche, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died in the Franciscan convent at San Severino Marche in 1233 (traditionally September 5) |
| Primary Shrine | Church of Santa Maria dei Lumi (Madonna dei Lumi), San Severino Marche, Italy |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in the General Roman Calendar; observed by the Franciscan Order and locally at San Severino Marche |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth and early life
Peregrine was born in the later twelfth century at Falerone, a town in the Marche of central Italy, the son of Ruggero, a wealthy nobleman and lord of the place.[1][2] Destined for a career befitting his rank, he was sent to study philosophy and canon law at the university of Bologna, and by all accounts was a cultivated and able scholar.[1]
Reception into the Order
While Peregrine was at Bologna, Saint Francis of Assisi came and preached in the city — an event usually connected with Francis's celebrated sermon there — and the young man was so moved that he, together with his friend Blessed Rizziero of Muccia, asked to be admitted to the Order of Friars Minor.[2][1] According to the Franciscan tradition, Saint Francis said to Peregrine: "You, my son, will serve God in the humble vocation of a lay brother, and you should apply yourself to practise humility in a special way."[2] Though learned enough to have become a priest, Peregrine accepted this counsel with joy and remained all his life a lay brother, choosing the lowest and humblest tasks — including the care of the sick — and never seeking ordination.[1][2]
Pilgrimage and holiness
Peregrine — whose name means "pilgrim" — is said to have journeyed to the Holy Land, where he wept with such devotion at the places of Christ's Passion that even the Saracens who watched him were moved.[2] One of the earliest companions of Saint Francis is reported to have declared that Brother Peregrine was one of the most perfect religious in the whole world.[2] God is said to have granted him the gift of miracles even during his lifetime.[2]
Death and relics
Peregrine died in the Franciscan convent at San Severino Marche in the year 1233; reliable tradition places his death on September 5.[1] Miracles were reported at his grave, and devotion to him grew; he was popularly invoked, among other things, against toothache.[2] When his tomb was opened — tradition says about seventy years after his death — his body was found incorrupt, and it was afterward translated to a nearby church.[1] His relics are preserved at the church of Santa Maria dei Lumi (the "Madonna dei Lumi") at San Severino Marche.[1]
Significant events
- Studied law at Bologna as a young nobleman of Falerone.
- Received the Franciscan habit from Saint Francis of Assisi after hearing him preach at Bologna.
- At Saint Francis's counsel, remained a lay brother devoted to humility and humble service.
- Made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
- Died at San Severino Marche in 1233, where his tomb became a place of miracles.
- His body was found incorrupt when exhumed.
- His cult was confirmed by Pope Pius VII on July 31, 1821.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Falerone, Marche, Italy
Death location: San Severino Marche, Marche, Italy
Notable location: Birthplace; his father Ruggero was a lord of the town (Falerone, Marche, Italy)
Notable location: Where he studied law and received the Franciscan habit from Saint Francis (Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)
Notable location: Site of his pilgrimage to the places of Christ's Passion (Jerusalem (Holy Land))
Notable location: Where he died and where his relics are venerated (San Severino Marche, Marche, Italy)
Notable location: Where his relics are preserved (Church of Santa Maria dei Lumi (Madonna dei Lumi), San Severino Marche, Italy)
Dynamic content
Parishes
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Shrines
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Canonization
Beatification (confirmation of cult)
The immemorial veneration paid to Peregrine at San Severino Marche was formally confirmed by Pope Pius VII on July 31, 1821 — an equipollent beatification.[1][2] He has not been formally canonized.
Feast day
March 27
Veneration
Blessed Peregrine of Falerone is venerated especially by the Franciscan Order and in the region of the Marche, above all at San Severino Marche, where his relics rest in the church of Santa Maria dei Lumi. He is remembered as a learned man who embraced the humility of a lay brother, and in popular devotion he is invoked against toothache. In art he is shown in the simple habit of a Franciscan lay brother, sometimes with a pilgrim's staff in reference to his journey to the Holy Land.[2][1]
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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External links
- Italian Wikipedia – Pellegrino da Falerone
- Roman-Catholic-Saints.com – Blessed Peregrin of Falerone
- Santi e Beati – Beato Pellegrino da Falerone